REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio — Operating permits issued to Ohio’s largest egg producer were revoked on Nov. 30 by the Ohio Department of Agriculture after a hearing officer found the company had provided incomplete information about the farm’s owner on the original application.

The revocation involved the 16 permits of Ohio Fresh Eggs LLC for 12 farms in Licking, Hardin and Wyandot counties that house about 14 million chickens.

Ohio law requires company owners or people who control the farm in any way to be identified on an application.

A hearing showed the company’s permit did not contain the name of Austin “Jack” DeCoster. Because his name wasn’t listed, ODA did not run a background check for environmental noncompliance.

“If the applications had disclosed DeCoster’s ownership and control when filed in 2003, a background check of environmental noncompliance would have indicated a substantial violation history, including recognition as a ‘habitual violator’ in Iowa,” according to an ODA news release.

“Ohio has a very stringent large livestock permitting program, which exceeds U.S. EPA’s requirements in at least 10 regulatory areas,” said ODA Assistant Director Howard Wise. “We expect compliance from all farms, regardless of size, and while the majority of Ohio farms are managed with honesty and integrity, Ohio law is very clear that permits based on false or misleading information must be revoked.”

The order includes revocation of permits for Croton egg farm, which includes four layer sites, four pullet sites, and a hatchery and breeder pullet site.

It also includes the Mt. Victory egg farm and Goshen pullet farms in Hardin County and the Marseilles egg farm in Wyandot County. Ohio Fresh Eggs may appeal the decision to the Environmental Review Appeals Commission.

The revocation is the latest happening in a long fight between the company, its neighbors and the government.

Buckeye Egg, a precursor to the current company, which opened in 1983, had a history of clean-water violations, as well as fly and rodent problems.

The department revoked its permits to operate in 2003.

This farm news was published in the Dec. 6, 2006 issue of Farm World, serving Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee.